Torfaen

The religious profile of Torfaen changed substantially in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, health and housing tenure.

The population changed very little

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Torfaen remained close to 91,100.

The addition of just over 100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Torfaen was home to, on average, 5.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Torfaen

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Torfaen increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This industrial area had a slightly lower average age than Neath Port Talbot (one of the most statistically similar areas to Torfaen based on ONS area classifications) (42 years of age) and had a similar age to the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 1,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 12% of people in Torfaen are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Caerphilly and Torfaen by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Torfaen

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Torfaen fell from 11% to 9.8% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 784 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 566.

In Caerphilly (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Torfaen), 11% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, similar to the 2001 figure. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Torfaen, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Denbighshire and Powys.

During this period, Torfaen fell below Merthyr Tydfil to become the Wales local authority area with the third-lowest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torfaen said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.3% to 2.5%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Blaenau Gwent (from 8.0% to 7.2%) followed by Caerphilly (from 9.9% to 7.8%).

Long hour working in Torfaen decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Torfaen, Caerphilly and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Torfaen saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

During this period, Torfaen overtook Cardiff, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to become the Wales local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Torfaen had a single parent, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 39% to 34%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households occurred in Rhondda Cynon Taf (from 12% to 13%) followed by Wrexham (from 9.7% to 11%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Torfaen

Torfaen saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Torfaen overtook Swansea to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 18 (5.7%) in Torfaen reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.9% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.8% to 7.4%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Denbighshire (from 4.4% to 5.5%) followed by Neath Port Talbot (from 6.2% to 7.1%).

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Torfaen saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

During this period, Torfaen overtook Swansea to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) in Torfaen reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.9%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care occurred in Denbighshire (from 3.0% to 3.6%) followed by Neath Port Talbot (from 4.2% to 4.8%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Torfaen remained close to 3.8%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Caerphilly and Torfaen by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Torfaen

The number of people in Torfaen that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 19,000 in 2001 to about 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 20% to 36% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Wales (from 19% to 32%).

The number of people in Torfaen that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 64,000 in 2001 to about 50,000 in 2011 (from 71% to 55%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 7,400 to about 6,900 (from 8.2% to 7.6%).

Just under 320 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 170 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Torfaen increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Caerphilly and Torfaen by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Torfaen

The percentage of single people in Torfaen increased from 25% to 31% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 54% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Torfaen that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased faster here than in nearby Caerphilly (which remained close 32%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 28% to 34%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Torfaen residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 14% to 8.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage of Torfaen residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to nearby Caerphilly (which remained close 9.3%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Torfaen decreased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Torfaen, Caerphilly and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Torfaen that rented privately increased from 3.7% to 8.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of Torfaen households that owned their home decreased from 68% to 66%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to nearby Caerphilly (which remained close 11%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Private renting in Torfaen increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Torfaen, Caerphilly and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

The percentage of households in Torfaen with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Torfaen without children increased from 57% to 58%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to nearby Caerphilly (which remained close 13%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Torfaen residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51% in 2001. The percentage of Torfaen residents that were self-employed increased from 4.9% to 5.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to nearby Caerphilly (which remained close 5.1%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 3.5% to 4.3%.

The rate of unemployment in Torfaen increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Torfaen, Caerphilly and Wales that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links